Here is my video review/walk through for the Apogee Jam.
Apogee Jam - Details, Review, etc. on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k69VbKB7rxE
I picked up an Apogee Jam yesterday, lucked out and found a Guitar Center in Orlando that had 1 left. I couldn't find them anywhere else, and it seems no one has them in stock again until late July/early August.
I decided to make a fairly thorough review, and detail some of the things that have been a bit unclear about the Jam, or that at least I personally had a difficult time finding much information on. Here is the video, it is 4 parts, about 7 minutes long.
(I will be splitting it up into 4 separate videos as soon as I have free time.)
** Detailed notes now posted below. For a quick review, read immediately below this sentence.**
QUICK REVIEW - I love this thing. A self powered Apogee interface that works on all my devices, fits in my pocket, and weighs about as much as a big lighter.
It worked immediately out of the box with my iPad 1, iPhone 4, and 2009 MBP. Literally just plug it in and that's it, in both iOS and OS X. *Works on both Snow Leopard and Lion.
Sound quality on direct guitar is awesome on both iOS and OS X, very similar to my GIO and even my original Duet when recording direct.
The only cons so far aren't really cons so much as unrealistic/wishful thinking on my part. Things like "it would be awesome if it had a built in mic, or a second input, or was not made of plastic." These things would be cool, but they would also make it cost and weigh more and be physically larger, which would make it a different device.
Anyways I hope this is helpful, I ended up answering a lot of my own questions I've had about the Jam that I couldn't find definitive info on.
**DETAILED NOTES/REVIEW**
General notes:
HARDWARE TESTED WITH:
WORKS WITH:
- iPad 1st gen 64gb Wifi+3G - iOS 4.3.3 thru iOS 5
- iPhone 4 32gb Att model - iOS 4.3.3 thru iOS 5
- 15" MacBook Pro 2.8ghz 4gb ram mid 2009 - 10.6.8
- 15" MacBook Pro 2.4ghz 4gb ram late 2008 - 10.7 Lion and above
- 13" Macbook 2.16 ghz 2gb ram - 10.6.7
DID NOT WORK WITH:
- iPod Touch 3rd Gen. - iOS 5 beta 2
- iPhone 1st gen - iOS 3.1.3
- SOUND QUALITY - Awesome! Clean and powerful. I did a quick personal a/b/c on OS X between the Jam, GIO, and 1st gen. Duet.
Granted this was a quick test, but there was no immediately perceivable difference between them at all!
I recorded the same riff on each take, and tried to match gain as close as possible.
The difference (if it's even TRULY perceivable) is so minimal that it's not worth worrying about it.
- Self powered on both iOS and OS X (seems to be really low power draw, barely affects battery life so far with the iPad and iPhone.)
- Came with 2 cables, 1 with a 30-pin connector for iOS devices, the other with a male USB end for Macs
- It was immediately recognized by both operating systems, didn't need to do anything besides plug it in. The LED will flash green a few seconds after being plugged in, then go to purple until it is either being accessed by an app in iOS or Core audio in OS X.
At that point it lights up green when in use.
- ***Maybe it's just me, but I think it's important to note as some people may get confused. The Jam DOES NOT have a physical output jack, you plug your headphones or output cable into the regular headphone jack on your iPad/iPhone, or Mac.
On Macs, you can choose separate audio input and output devices in most recording software, so you can use either the built in headphones or a different core audio device for output. (Example, in Ableton, choose "Jam" as your input device and "built in audio" or "duet", etc, as your output device. Same in Logic.)
- Size and weight are awesome, like an oversized cigarette lighter, weighs nothing
- Plastic housing doesn't seem as durable as the GIO or Duet, but at the same time it would be heavier and more expensive if it were built of different material so I don't see this as bad. Anyone who expects or wants something larger and heavier duty, that's what the larger pricier interfaces are for.
I do plan on getting/making a small case of some kind for extra protection. I haven't looked to see if Apogee have a case for them yet, but it shouldn't be hard to find or make something for it.
- Has 40db of gain, no trouble matching to different guitars output levels
- I plugged an Audix i5 straight into the Jam using an XLR to 1/4" cable, and there's enough gain to get a nice clean recording. SM-58 was a good bit quieter but still could possibly be usable if you boost the recorded file by 15-25db afterwards.
I'd like to see how it sounds with my OktavaModded MK-319 but I don't have an external power supply for the 319 at the moment.
(Trying this out just makes me want the new Mic now, although a 2-channel self powered Apogee interface like a mini one/duet type thing would be even better. I wonder if it's even realistic to do so while still meeting the iPad power draw limitations?)
OS X operation notes:
- Jam is recognized as a core audio device with 1 inputs and 0 outputs
- Jam works great in 10.6.8
- Jam works great in 10.7 thru 10.7.2
- The Jam worked fine using a powered Belkin USB hub on Macbook Pro (not officially supported by Apogee, but seems to work perfect, YMMV)
- The Jam worked well as an aggregate device with my Apogee GIO (again, not officially supported by Apogee, YMMV)
The settings for this aggregate device were:
* GIO as clock master
* Jam set to resample
* Audio set to 44.1khz 24-bit
Worked great on the following hardware/software configurations:
- 15" MacBook Pro 2.8ghz 4gb ram mid 2009 - 10.6.8
- 15" MacBook Pro 2.4ghz 4gb ram late 2008 - 10.7 Final GM Build of LION
- 13" Macbook 2.16 ghz 2gb ram - 10.6.7
iOS operation notes:
- low battery drain on both my devices, barely noticeable
- Since Jam is an INPUT ONLY device, you plug your headphones into the headphone jack on your iPhone/iPad as usual.
HARDWARE TESTED:
WORKED WITH:
- iPad 1st gen 64gb Wifi+3G - iOS 4.3.3 thru iOS 5
- iPhone 4 32gb Att model - iOS 4.3.3 thru iOS 5
DID NOT WORK on:
- iPod Touch 3rd Gen. - iOS 5 beta 2
- iPhone 1st gen - iOS 3.1.3
Working/compatible apps so far (tested on iOS 4.3.3 thru iOS 5 on iPad 1 and iPhone 4)
- Built in camera! Use the Jam to record using an external microphone.
- GarageBand for iOS (iPad and iPhone)
- Multitrack DAW
- Studio.HD
- Looptastic HD
- Everyday Looper
- 4-track
- Ampkit (confirmed working by Youtube user "nikitamwaha" who responded to my video. Tested on an iPad 2 running iOS 4.3.3)
- Pocketamp (confirmed by "nikitamwaha" on YouTube.)
- Apple built in voice memo app
Apps not currently working:
- Amplitube
- FIRE recorder
Apogee Jam - Details, Review, etc. on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k69VbKB7rxE
I picked up an Apogee Jam yesterday, lucked out and found a Guitar Center in Orlando that had 1 left. I couldn't find them anywhere else, and it seems no one has them in stock again until late July/early August.
I decided to make a fairly thorough review, and detail some of the things that have been a bit unclear about the Jam, or that at least I personally had a difficult time finding much information on. Here is the video, it is 4 parts, about 7 minutes long.
(I will be splitting it up into 4 separate videos as soon as I have free time.)
** Detailed notes now posted below. For a quick review, read immediately below this sentence.**
QUICK REVIEW - I love this thing. A self powered Apogee interface that works on all my devices, fits in my pocket, and weighs about as much as a big lighter.
It worked immediately out of the box with my iPad 1, iPhone 4, and 2009 MBP. Literally just plug it in and that's it, in both iOS and OS X. *Works on both Snow Leopard and Lion.
Sound quality on direct guitar is awesome on both iOS and OS X, very similar to my GIO and even my original Duet when recording direct.
The only cons so far aren't really cons so much as unrealistic/wishful thinking on my part. Things like "it would be awesome if it had a built in mic, or a second input, or was not made of plastic." These things would be cool, but they would also make it cost and weigh more and be physically larger, which would make it a different device.
Anyways I hope this is helpful, I ended up answering a lot of my own questions I've had about the Jam that I couldn't find definitive info on.
**DETAILED NOTES/REVIEW**
General notes:
HARDWARE TESTED WITH:
WORKS WITH:
- iPad 1st gen 64gb Wifi+3G - iOS 4.3.3 thru iOS 5
- iPhone 4 32gb Att model - iOS 4.3.3 thru iOS 5
- 15" MacBook Pro 2.8ghz 4gb ram mid 2009 - 10.6.8
- 15" MacBook Pro 2.4ghz 4gb ram late 2008 - 10.7 Lion and above
- 13" Macbook 2.16 ghz 2gb ram - 10.6.7
DID NOT WORK WITH:
- iPod Touch 3rd Gen. - iOS 5 beta 2
- iPhone 1st gen - iOS 3.1.3
- SOUND QUALITY - Awesome! Clean and powerful. I did a quick personal a/b/c on OS X between the Jam, GIO, and 1st gen. Duet.
Granted this was a quick test, but there was no immediately perceivable difference between them at all!
I recorded the same riff on each take, and tried to match gain as close as possible.
The difference (if it's even TRULY perceivable) is so minimal that it's not worth worrying about it.
- Self powered on both iOS and OS X (seems to be really low power draw, barely affects battery life so far with the iPad and iPhone.)
- Came with 2 cables, 1 with a 30-pin connector for iOS devices, the other with a male USB end for Macs
- It was immediately recognized by both operating systems, didn't need to do anything besides plug it in. The LED will flash green a few seconds after being plugged in, then go to purple until it is either being accessed by an app in iOS or Core audio in OS X.
At that point it lights up green when in use.
- ***Maybe it's just me, but I think it's important to note as some people may get confused. The Jam DOES NOT have a physical output jack, you plug your headphones or output cable into the regular headphone jack on your iPad/iPhone, or Mac.
On Macs, you can choose separate audio input and output devices in most recording software, so you can use either the built in headphones or a different core audio device for output. (Example, in Ableton, choose "Jam" as your input device and "built in audio" or "duet", etc, as your output device. Same in Logic.)
- Size and weight are awesome, like an oversized cigarette lighter, weighs nothing
- Plastic housing doesn't seem as durable as the GIO or Duet, but at the same time it would be heavier and more expensive if it were built of different material so I don't see this as bad. Anyone who expects or wants something larger and heavier duty, that's what the larger pricier interfaces are for.
I do plan on getting/making a small case of some kind for extra protection. I haven't looked to see if Apogee have a case for them yet, but it shouldn't be hard to find or make something for it.
- Has 40db of gain, no trouble matching to different guitars output levels
- I plugged an Audix i5 straight into the Jam using an XLR to 1/4" cable, and there's enough gain to get a nice clean recording. SM-58 was a good bit quieter but still could possibly be usable if you boost the recorded file by 15-25db afterwards.
I'd like to see how it sounds with my OktavaModded MK-319 but I don't have an external power supply for the 319 at the moment.
(Trying this out just makes me want the new Mic now, although a 2-channel self powered Apogee interface like a mini one/duet type thing would be even better. I wonder if it's even realistic to do so while still meeting the iPad power draw limitations?)
OS X operation notes:
- Jam is recognized as a core audio device with 1 inputs and 0 outputs
- Jam works great in 10.6.8
- Jam works great in 10.7 thru 10.7.2
- The Jam worked fine using a powered Belkin USB hub on Macbook Pro (not officially supported by Apogee, but seems to work perfect, YMMV)
- The Jam worked well as an aggregate device with my Apogee GIO (again, not officially supported by Apogee, YMMV)
The settings for this aggregate device were:
* GIO as clock master
* Jam set to resample
* Audio set to 44.1khz 24-bit
Worked great on the following hardware/software configurations:
- 15" MacBook Pro 2.8ghz 4gb ram mid 2009 - 10.6.8
- 15" MacBook Pro 2.4ghz 4gb ram late 2008 - 10.7 Final GM Build of LION
- 13" Macbook 2.16 ghz 2gb ram - 10.6.7
iOS operation notes:
- low battery drain on both my devices, barely noticeable
- Since Jam is an INPUT ONLY device, you plug your headphones into the headphone jack on your iPhone/iPad as usual.
HARDWARE TESTED:
WORKED WITH:
- iPad 1st gen 64gb Wifi+3G - iOS 4.3.3 thru iOS 5
- iPhone 4 32gb Att model - iOS 4.3.3 thru iOS 5
DID NOT WORK on:
- iPod Touch 3rd Gen. - iOS 5 beta 2
- iPhone 1st gen - iOS 3.1.3
Working/compatible apps so far (tested on iOS 4.3.3 thru iOS 5 on iPad 1 and iPhone 4)
- Built in camera! Use the Jam to record using an external microphone.
- GarageBand for iOS (iPad and iPhone)
- Multitrack DAW
- Studio.HD
- Looptastic HD
- Everyday Looper
- 4-track
- Ampkit (confirmed working by Youtube user "nikitamwaha" who responded to my video. Tested on an iPad 2 running iOS 4.3.3)
- Pocketamp (confirmed by "nikitamwaha" on YouTube.)
- Apple built in voice memo app
Apps not currently working:
- Amplitube
- FIRE recorder
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